For many people, designing their dream home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With an incomparable level of control over each step of the process, building your new house from the ground up allows you to create your ideal space. If you want your home to radiate warmth and comfort, you can make that happen. If you’re looking for convenience and efficiency, you can work that into your design. But that process doesn’t come without effort. From the first steps of the process through the finished product, many tasks and considerations come into play.

Gathering your inspiration.

Maybe you’ve spent your entire life dreaming of a luxurious bedroom or your new remote role calls for a home office or workspace, chances are you have an idea of some features that make up your ideal home. But you may not have thought about the kitchen if you don’t often cook, for example, or the details of the bathroom. Spend some time watching Property Brothers or scrolling through Pinterest images to find what styles stick out to you.

Determining your budget.

It’s important to sit down and figure out how much you can afford to put into your new home. Research is the most important thing you can do that goes into the process, including the cost of the land itself, any fees or taxes for the area, and construction costs. Be sure to include a bit of wiggle room for the inevitable contingencies! Cut back to increase your home savings, work to improve your credit score before applying for a loan, and compare potential lenders to make sure you can afford the house of your dreams.

Identifying your priorities.

Before you go further along in the process, it’s a good idea to consider your needs and wants. You might need extensive storage space to organize your belongings or a large dining table to accommodate your weekly family dinners. If these are non-negotiables, you’ll want to determine that early so you can make sure they happen. Similarly, think of the aspects that might not be necessary but will make your home a better, more comfortable place. If your work environment is stressful and you want nothing more than to relax after a day at the office, you might want to design a comfortable space in your home where you can unwind.

Putting together a team of professionals.

As you design your dream home, remember that you’re not doing it all on your own. Typically, you’ll need to hire an architect, designer, builder, and other home pros that can make your dream a reality. Compare rates, references, and customer testimonials for your top choices to find the dream team to help you design your ideal home. These experts will know the appropriate size for your fixtures, the legal requirements for permits and other regulations, and other critical knowledge to make your dream home a success.

Considering the space.

As a general rule of thumb, you need to consider how your new home will fit into the space you’re working with. Do you want a big yard or can you sacrifice some outdoor space for a larger house? Similarly, you’ll need to factor in the indoor dimensions of your home. Use the projected square footage of your new house to determine the appropriate furnace size for your home, for example, to make sure your dream home offers a comfortable temperature. The size of your furnace will determine whether you have too little or too much heat—a consideration you’ll be grateful for when winter comes.

Following the building process.

As your new home moves from drawings and basic calculations to a tangible building in progress, you must check in with your professional team. Along the way, you’ll find you might have to literally go back to the drawing board to ensure you have the right furnace size for a small space or to add space for your new sofa, a luxury kitchen counter, or an added sunroom. By checking in with your construction team and other pros, you’ll be ready to tackle any obstacles that pop up—and able to make any changes you dream up along the way.

No one said that designing your dream home would be easy but, after you’ve moved into the perfect house, you’ll have no doubt whatsoever that the process was worth it. Dreaming of the perfect curtains, closet, and décor might be fun but it’s equally important to find the right furnace, follow any regulations, and otherwise make sure each technical measure is in place to make a perfect, comfortable home for you and your family. After all, the most important factor is that you’re happy with the finished product and ready to live in your custom-designed dream home for years to come.